Weekend accident claims life of Fort Dodge teen

One person was killed, five hurt, in a two-vehicle accident Saturday night near Fort Dodge. The victim was identified as 17-year-old Caitlin Rathermel of Fort Dodge. She was the passenger in a 2002 Volkswagon Jetta driven by 53-year-old Michael Rathermel also of Fort Dodge.

Reportedly the Rathermel car was traveling north on Highway 169 when it lost control, sliding across the center line into the path of a southbound 2001 Ford Crown Victoria driven by 46-year-old Daniel Bonnema of Cedar Rapids. Michael Rathermel was injured in the accident along with Bonnema and the passengers in his vehicle.

They included 45-year-old Debra Bonnema, 20-year-old Eric Bonnema and 17-year-old Jessica Bonnema all of Cedar Rapids. The injured were taken to hospitals in Fort Dodge and in Humboldt. The collision remains under investigation by the State Patrol and the Webster County Sheriff’s Department.